Orbital elements and other data (Assumed or derived values in parenthesis, my estimates in italics and parenthesis. Source identifications in brackets, see this link for sources):

Primary discovered by J. L. Ortiz, F. J. Aceituno, P. Santos-Sanz, and J. Nomen in 2005 from images taken on 7 March 2003 from Sierra Nevada. Subsequently linked to prediscovery observations from 1955. Other designations K40506A. Informally designated "Santa" by the Brown et al. team, which observed the object independently in 2004-2005. Permanent number assigned 7 September 2006. Name, assigned 17 September 2008, was that proposed by Brown et al.; Ortiz et al. had reportedly proposed the name Ataecina.

Hi'iaka discovered 2005 by the Keck Observatory adaptive optics telescope by A. Bouchez, M. Brown, R. Campbell, J. Chin, M. van Dam, S. Hartman, E. Johansson, R. Lafon, D. Le Mignant, P. Stomski, D. Summers, P. Wizinowich, C. Trujillo, and D. Rabinowitz. Name assigned 17 September 2008.

Namaka discovered 30 June 2005 by M. E. Brown, M. A. van Dam, A. H. Bouchez, D. Le Mignant, R. D. Campbell, J. C. Y. Chin, A. Conrad, S. K. Hartman, E. M. Johansson, R. E. Lafon, D. L. Rabinowitz, P. J. Stomski, Jr., D. M. Summers, C. A. Trujillo, and P. L. Wizinowich. Announced November 2005. Name assigned 17 September 2008.

See more information and links at Asteroid/Comet Connection Catchall Catalog page

• IAUC 8577.
• IAUC 8636.
• Keck Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Discovery and Characterization of a Large Kuiper Belt Object Satellite.
• Photometric observations of a very bright TNO with an extraordinary lightcurve.
• Near Infrared Spectra from Mauna Kea of the New Brightest Kuiper Belt Object.
• MPEC 2005-O36.
• Keck Observatory laser guide star adaptive optics discovery and characterization of a satellite to large Kuiper belt object 2003 EL61 (.pdf).

--Links, less technical:

• Bright Trans-Neptunian Object 2003EL61.
• 2003 EL61.
• Distant object found orbiting Sun.
• Large New World Discovered Beyond Neptune.

--Links to ADS abstracts:

• Merlin, F., Guilbert, A., Dumas, C., Barucci, M. A., de Bergh, C., & Vernazza, P. 2007, Astronomy and Astrophysics Properties of the icy surface of the TNO 136108 (2003 EL{61})
• Holsapple, Keith A. 2007, Icarus Spin limits of Solar System bodies: From the small fast-rotators to 2003 EL61
• Sheppard, Scott S. 2007, ArXiv e-prints Light Curves of Dwarf Plutonian Planets and other Large Kuiper Belt Objects: Their Rotations, Phase Functions and Absolute Magnitudes
• Kenyon, Scott J., Bromley, Benjamin C., O'Brien, David P., & Davis, Donald R. 2007, ArXiv e-prints Formation and Collisional Evolution of Kuiper Belt Objects
• Brown, Michael E., Barkume, Kristina M., Ragozzine, Darin, & Schaller, Emily L. 2007, Nature A collisional family of icy objects in the Kuiper belt
• Pinilla-Alonso, N., Licandro, J., Gil-Hutton, R., & Brunetto, R. 2007, ArXiv Astrophysics e-prints The water ice rich surface of (145453) 2005 RR43: a case for a population of trans-neptunian objects?
• Trujillo, Chadwick A., Brown, Michael E., Barkume, Kristina M., Schaller, Emily L., & Rabinowitz, David L. 2007, Astrophysical Journal The Surface of 2003 EL<SUB>61</SUB> in the Near-Infrared
• Tegler, S. C., Grundy, W. M., Romanishin, W., Consolmagno, G. J., Mogren, K., & Vilas, F. 2007, Astronomical Journal Optical Spectroscopy of the Large Kuiper Belt Objects 136472 (2005 FY9) and 136108 (2003 EL61)
• Rabinowitz, David L., Schaefer, Bradley E., & Tourtellotte, Suzanne W. 2007, Astronomical Journal The Diverse Solar Phase Curves of Distant Icy Bodies. I. Photometric Observations of 18 Trans-Neptunian Objects, 7 Centaurs, and Nereid
• Lacerda, Pedro & Jewitt, David 2006, ArXiv Astrophysics e-prints Densities of Solar System Objects from their Rotational Lightcurves
• Brown, M. E. & Barkume, K. M. 2006, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts A classificaiton system for KBO spectra and what we learn
• Hansen, Candice & Paige, D. A. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Seasonal Behavior of Nitrogen Atmospheres on Trans-Neptunian Objects
• Barkume, Kristina, Brown, M. E., & Schaller, E. L. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Discovery of a Collisional Family in the Kuiper Belt
• Rabinowitz, David L., Schaefer, B. E., & Tourtellotte, S. W. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts The Fresh Icy Surfaces of Pluto-sized Trans-Neptunian Objects
• Pinilla-Alonso, Noemi, Licandro, J., & Gil-Hutton, R. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts The Surface Of Pluto-twin And Charon-like Objects
• Merlin, Frederic, Dumas, C., Barucci, M., Hainaut, O., de Bergh, C., & Guilbert, A. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Spectroscopic Analyses Of The Bright TNOs 2003 UB313 And 2003 EL61
• Tegler, Stephen C., Grundy, W., Consolmagno, G., Romanishin, W., & Mogren, K. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Optical Spectra of the Large Kuiper Belt Objects 2003 EL61 and 2005 FY9
• Ragozzine, Darin & Brown, M. E. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Determining The Orbits Of The Satellites Of KBO 2003 El61
• Brown, Michael E. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts The Largest Kuiper Belt Objects
• Lacerda, Pedro & Jewitt, D. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Densities from Lightcurves
• Cook, Jason C., Desch, S. J., Roush, T. L., Geballe, T. R., & Trujullo, C. A. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Charon: Possible Evidence for Cryovolcanism on Kuiper Belt Objects
• McKinnon, William B. & Barr, A. C. 2006, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts Structure and Evolution of Ice Dwarf Planets
• Barkume, K. M., Brown, M. E., & Schaller, E. L. 2006, Astrophysical Journal Water Ice on the Satellite of Kuiper Belt Object 2003 EL₆₁
• Brown, M. E., van Dam, M. A., Bouchez, A. H., Le Mignant, D., Campbell, R. D., Chin, J. C. Y., Conrad, A., Hartman, S. K., Johansson, E. M., Lafon, R. E., Rabinowitz, D. L., Stomski, P. J., Jr., Summers, D. M., Trujillo, C. A., & Wizinowich, P. L. 2006, Astrophysical Journal Satellites of the Largest Kuiper Belt Objects
• Rabinowitz, David L., Barkume, Kristina, Brown, Michael E., Roe, Henry, Schwartz, Michael, Tourtellotte, Suzanne, & Trujillo, Chad 2006, Astrophysical Journal Photometric Observations Constraining the Size, Shape, and Albedo of 2003 EL61, a Rapidly Rotating, Pluto-sized Object in the Kuiper Belt
• Brown, M. E., Bouchez, A. H., Rabinowitz, D., Sari, R., Trujillo, C. A., van Dam, M., Campbell, R., Chin, J., Hartman, S., Johansson, E., Lafon, R., Le Mignant, D., Stomski, P., Summers, D., & Wizinowich, P. 2005, Astrophysical Journal Keck Observatory Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Discovery and Characterization of a Satellite to the Large Kuiper Belt Object 2003 EL<SUB>61</SUB>
• Ortiz, J. L., Bambery, R., Helin, E., Pravdo, S., Hicks, M., Lawrence, K., Kervin, P., Matson, R., Sanchez, S., Stoss, R., Nomen, J., Aceituno, F. J., Santos-Sanz, P., & Williams, G. V. 2005, Minor Planet Electronic Circulars 2003 EL61

© 2005-2007, 2008 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 17 September 2008.
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